The Hats will Find You...

A girl can never have too many hats, can she? Maielle loves to try on Grammie's hats. What is this inborn desire to play dress-up? What is our fascination with hats? Maybe its a reflection of our journey to find our selves.

With the change of a hat you look and feel differently. People see you in a bigger picture. I know nurses don't wear their little caps anymore but to me that little cap provoked respect. Stories of Clara Barton immediately flood my mind with pictures of her untiring, faithful service. The cap represents an era.

I once wore a hat while in the marching band in high school. I didn't really like the way it messed with my hair. However, when I placed that hat on my head I felt taller. For some reason my shoulders went back and my head high. The hat represented something bigger than myself -- the honor of our school, the reputation of the Christiana Vikings. It magically transformed me from an awkward teen to a marching Viking.

As women, we wear many different hats representing a variety of roles. We're wife, mother, chef, maid, taxi driver, laundress, seamstress, teacher, coach, counselor, shopper, party organizer, event planner, decorator, nurse and physician's assistant, appointment secretary, comforter, encourager, cheer leader, and banker. Whew! That's a lot of hats to wear.

I don't know about you but I like the variety of womanhood. I like changing hats for different days and situations. I might look a little crazy if I wore them all at once, but at a moment's notice women seem to be able to change hats with lightening speed. Our family and friends barely notice our slight of hand but they sure seem to enjoy us taking on our different roles.

We're born to wear hats. Hats of responsibility -- hats of respect and reputation -- hats of character and integrity. While our hats may be invisible, their affect is still the same -- they whisk us into the bigger picture. It's not all about us. We are important and the hat calls forth something that's desperately needed.

I'm not sure we ever lose that fascination for hats. Laughing till we cried, my Mother and I tried on almost every hat at Macy's one day. The variety of styles and colors caught our attention and begged to transform us. Time seemed to stand still as we played dress up. I'll never forget those magical moments.

Maielle has just begun her fascination with hats but we all know her journey will be an adventure. Swallowing Maielle's beautiful head of hair, my hat is much too large but someday she will fill it out and take over the roles Grammie leaves behind.

"Enjoy playing dress up for now, Maielle. Don't grow up too soon, the hats will find you."